Jeon Jin-sook "Former Representative Lee Nak-yeon’s Defection from the Party Is an Act That Should Not Be Done"

Jeon Jin-sook, a preliminary candidate for the National Assembly representing Buk-gu (Eul) electoral district in Gwangju Metropolitan City, criticized former leader Lee Nak-yeon, who officially announced his departure from the Democratic Party on the 11th, saying, “As a political leader who has enjoyed many benefits from the Democratic Party, he has committed an act that should not have been done.”

Jeon said, “Former leader Lee has always prided himself as a cautious and dignified politician, saying that ‘the path of a political leader must have dignity and grace,’” adding, “However, his current actions are completely incomprehensible. As a political leader who served as the party leader of the Democratic Party and as Prime Minister under the Democratic government, Lee Nak-yeon should have been different from other politicians who left the party.”

She continued, “Other politicians may leave the party depending on their political interests,” and “However, former leader Lee always emphasized that the Democratic Party was his ‘spiritual home,’ so I want to ask whether all those statements were empty words.”

She also pointed out, “Although former leader Lee claims that his choice is for innovation and change in Korean politics, the outcome is obvious,” and “His actions will result in aiding the conservative regime in the general election, effectively cooperating with the People Power Party’s strategy to turn the general election, which serves as a mid-term evaluation of the Yoon Seok-youl administration, into a referendum to punish the Democratic Party.”

She further criticized Lee’s remarks treating the Democratic Party as a criminal organization before his announcement of leaving the party.

Jeon said, “The meaning of Lee’s remarks shows what kind of attitude he will have toward the Democratic Party in the future,” and “This reminds us painfully of the past presidential candidate selection process, where the so-called ‘Myung-Nak War’ escalated conflicts, eventually blaming Lee Jae-myung as the main culprit of the Daejang-dong scandal, which led to the defeat in the presidential election.”

Moreover, she stated, “This act, which caused an irreparable wound of division within the Democratic Party among Honam residents after the presidential election defeat, will not gain the support of the Honam people,” and “I am curious how former leader Lee, who has political roots in Honam, can continue his political path without the support of the Honam people. It is clear that a leader who does not receive the people’s support will disappear into history like a withered fallen leaf.”

She added, “Watching this departure incident, as someone who has protected the party through divisions and trials for 13 years since joining the Democratic Party, I will do my best until the end to achieve victory in the general election centered on the party and leader Lee Jae-myung,” and “I hope the citizens of Gwangju will join in the victory of the Democratic Party and democratic forces in the general election.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.